Series Beholding the LAMB #26 “THE GREAT LESSON @ THE LAST SUPPER” John 13:1-17

Intro-John 13 is the beginning of a new section in John's gospel.John's gospel has been called the Holy Place in the Bible. If John's gospel is the holy place, then chapters 13 through 17 must be the Holy of Holies. As we move through chapters 13 through 17, we are walking on sacred ground!

In John 13, we have arrived at the final days of his life. The Bible tells us in verse one; we are just before the Passover. This would be the Passover of all Passover’s, for here Christ would be the true Passover Lamb. Jesus’ public ministry has now ended. He’s gone up into the upper room. He’s putting some finishing touches on His personal ministry. This scripture describes for us in detail the events of the Lord’s Supper. There was controversy brewing over whowould be the greatest. Also there was the issue of WHO was going to wash everyone’s feet. At the Last Supper the issue at hand was over PRIDE. Illus- I heard about a Pastor who preached a sermon on Pride. A lady who listened to the message decided to wait and speak with the preacher after the service. She told him that she was in much distress and wanted to confess a great sin. The pastor asked what the sin might be. She replied, “It’s the sin of Pride. I sat for an hour before my mirror this afternoon admiring my own beauty.” Oh said the mischievous pastor, “that’s not the sin of Pride but the sin of Imagination!”

In 1st century Jewish culture, it was custom for the host to wash the feet of his guest. Or he could have his slaves wash feet. You can only begin to imagine the grubby feet which had been soiled from the dessert sand. The only problem was, the host was not there. It was only Jesus and the disciples. And the disciples were sure not willing to wash the others feet. It was at this point that an amazing thing happened. The Eternal Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, arose from His place, discarded his outer garment, tied a towel around His waist, took a pitcher of water and a basin and assumed the task of a slave. Notice the Saviors actions give for us #1: I. A GREAT SAVIOR TO COPY-(vs15) 15For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.When Jesus, the King of Glory, bowed at the feet of His disciples it gave us an example of Divine Humility. “There are three important lessons that every Christian needs to learn. The first is humility. The second is humility. And the third is humility. There is no task in the work of the Lord that is menial. ILL- Several years ago at Summer Camp, my lot fell upon the 2nd and 3rd grade boys. Our cabin was 8’ by 12’ which consisted of 4 bunk beds a total of 8 beds. It had two small windows on each side, a door on each end, One light and one window unit Air conditioner. One of my campers asked could he along with his flash light be excused to step out behind the cabin to take care of some business! I said sure and the rest of us inside continued telling ghost stories, I mean reciting bible verses. After some time, I heard a faint voice calling Mr. Brian HELP! I jumped out of my bunk, grabbed my flash light and ran outside. Shinned my flash light, couldn’t see him anywhere! Finally, I heard movement over behind a tree. He said, I’m over here! When my flash light shinned on him, he was squatted down with not a stitch of clothes on and the worst smell coming from his direction. He hesitantly said, “I had an accident”. (he had used the bathroom all over the place) I said, you need some help don’t you? He said, Yep! I said I’ll go into the Church and grab some more toilet paper. You stay here! When I got back and handed him the toilet paper, he stood there like most 2nd graders would have, waiting for mama to step on the scene… what am I supposed to do. I noticed that it was all down his legs and all over the ground I was standing in. He said, Mr. Brian, you remember the taco dinner we had tonight? It didn’t like me! A Lesson in humility! …notice:

A. The Last Supper Described the WORK He Came to do Mark 10:4545For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. (While the disciples were sitting around trying to figure who should wash everyone’s feet, Jesus arose from supper and got the job done!)

ILL- During the Revolutionary War a man in civilian clothes rode past a group of weary soldiers who were trying to repair a small defensive barrier. Their leader was barking instructions at them but he made no attempt to help the men. The rider brought his horse to a halt and asked the authoritative officer what his rank was. The soldier replied with great dignity, “Sir, I am a corporal.” The stranger apologized and dismounted his horse and began to help those weary soldiers. When they finished the job the stranger turned to the corporal and said, “Mr. Corporal, next time you have a job like this and not enough men, go to your Commander-in-Chief, and I will come and help you again.” The man in civilian clothes was George Washington. 1. His Work was IDENTIFIED by His LOVE- (Verse 1) “having loved his own…he loved them unto the end” Do you understand that Jesus Loves you this …? That’s why he laid aside his Royal Garments. That’s why he left the splendor Heaven. He Rolled up His sleeves, set out on a mission to wade through this world of sin and seek you out! RATHER than focusing his mind on Judas’s betrayal or the cruelty of the cross, He focused on His love for his disciples! If We are going to Copy our Lord We Must LOVE the BRETHREN.

2. His Work was ILLUMINATED by His LABOR-(Verse 2-5) Feet washing was the chore of lowly slaves. These disciples had not left their boats to become feet washers. Cleaning fish and Hard Work was behind them now. They were entered into the ministry. ILL- I served under a Pastor named Dr. Martin for a few years. When he called me in to interview me, the first thing he asked me was How well do you clean toilets? Stunned I said, pretty well sir! He said If you are not willing to clean the commodes and take out the trash when needed- I don’t need you!

Can you see this Holy scene unfolding? Jewish custom was for the Host to wash his guest feet upon arrival. Supper has ended and yet still no one is willing to humble themselves and then an unbelievable thing happens. Jesus rises from Supper, lays aside his garments and wraps a towel around himself, takes a basin of water and bows at his disciples feet and begins to scrub their dirty feet. GOD who made the world and all that is therein, stoops to wash sinners feet.

Dear friend, do you see how much God loves you? He is willing to come to where you are and wash your filthy sin w/ his own blood! What God the Son was doing physically on the outside, after Calvary, God the Holy Spirit was going to do on the inside!

(#1- A Great Savior to Copy)

II. A GREAT SALVATION TO CLAIM- (verse 6-11)

A. The Last Supper Described the WASHING He came to give

1. There is the INITIAL CLEANSING- speaks of Salvation In verse 10 you find the words “washed “ and “wash.” The first wash means “to bath completely.” The second means “to partially wash.”When Peter heard that he could not have fellowship with the Lord unless he washed, he leaped to the extreme and said: “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.”(verse9) Jesus then replied: “He that is WASHED” indicating that he that had been born-

again, washed in the blood, saved from his sin, need not get saved all over again. That blood that was shed on the Cross, will not fade away! It will never lose its power! Once you’ve been washed, you are Saved for all eternity! Page 4

2. There is the CONTINUAL CLEANSING- speaks of Fellowship “he that is washed, needeth not save to “wash” his feet…” As we walk the dusty defiled roads here on earth, our feet are bound to get dirty. Our minds are flooded with impure thoughts! Our mouths give way to gossip and corrupt speech. That’s why we need Jesus to wash our feet with repeated cleansing to keep the fellowship open!

(#2- A Great Salvation to Claim-Have you been washed from your sin?)

III. A GREAT SERVICE TO CONTINUE- (Verse 12-15)

A. The Last Supper Described the WORK we should Continue (Read 12-15) … John 13:1414If I then,your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.You would have thought that our Lord might have said, “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed YOUR FEET, then YOU should wash MY FEET!(You can imagine there would have been a fight over who would wash his feet first). His example gave them an Example to follow!

1. Washing feet means TOUCHING LIVES of the SAINTS- Feet washing was not only a matter of hygiene to remove the dirt from the feet, it also providedphysical refreshment to the weary traveler.

2- Washing feet means TAKING the PLACE of a Humble SERVANT- 14If I then,your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. (John 13:14) Our world is plagued with the mentality of “HOW HIGH CAN YOU GO?” But the real question is “HOW LOW ARE YOU WILLING TO GO”?

Are you willing to Humble Yourself at the Cross so that Christ can Wash your sins away? Or are you like Peter? You will NEVER wash my feet. Saint, are you willing to humble yourself for continual cleaning and be willing to wash others feet?Do you need to be washed this…?

Late one night after a Bible Conference at Moody Bible Institute, Mr. Moody himself was walking through the halls. He came upon the rooms of the visiting preachers. Outside each room was there shoes waiting to be shinned. Spotting a few Bible students, Mr. Moody asked them to take a

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piece of chalk and mark the room number on the bottowm of the shoes and shine them nicely then return them. The students protested, “Mr. Moody, wedidn’t come here to clean shoes. We came here to study for the ministry.” Mr. Moody himself collected all the shoes. He shinned them personally returning them without recognition. The Founder of such a great Church and School humbled himself and did the job those students were unwilling to do!

So what wasthe Great Lesson@ The Last Supper? Was it the fact that Jesus washed feet? No. The Great Lesson was that He did for us what we could not do for ourselves. He took our place as a servant, died for our dirty sins, and is waiting to wash the filth of sin from our lives.

How will you respond?